Woman, toddler killed in I-70 crash

State police say a woman and a toddler have been killed in a fiery crash on I-70 east of US 231.

The crash, which happened just after 6:00 p.m., involved a semi tractor-trailer and 3 other passenger vehicles.

Investigators say the crash happened in a construction zone where traffic had temporarily stopped. The driver of the semi apparently didn't notice the stopped traffic and plowed into the stopped cars.

A 49-year-old woman and her 3-year-old daughter were killed in the crash. Police say their vehicle caught fire. Witnesses and police officers worked to try to rescue the pair from the crash, but were pushed back by the flames.

The driver of the semi was not wearing a seatbelt, and was ejected from the truck. He was transported to Methodist Hospital in critical condition. The semi left the roadway and landed on its side.

Two other motorists suffered what police described as non-life-threatening injuries.

Police have not released identities of those involved in the crash, but say they believe all of them were from out of state.